Word Choice and Tone - Practice

Grade 5 Reading | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.5.R.3.1
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Directions: Read each passage carefully. Pay close attention to the author's word choices. Then answer the questions about tone, mood, and how word choice affects meaning.
Passage 1: The Storm

The wind howled through the bare branches like a wounded animal. Dark clouds devoured the last rays of sunlight, plunging the neighborhood into an early twilight. Maria pressed her face against the cold glass, watching the first fat raindrops explode against the window.

Inside, the house groaned and creaked as gusts of wind battered its walls. The lights flickered once, twice, then surrendered to darkness. Maria's heart hammered in her chest. Somewhere in the distance, thunder growled its warning.

"Just a storm," she whispered to herself, though her voice trembled. "Just a storm."

Questions About Passage 1

1. What is the overall TONE of this passage?
2. The author writes that the wind "howled" and thunder "growled." What effect do these word choices have on the reader?
3. The author says the clouds "devoured" the sunlight and the lights "surrendered" to darkness. Why did the author choose these words instead of simpler words like "covered" and "went out"?
4. Which phrase BEST creates a mood of fear and unease?
5. How does the repetition of "Just a storm" at the end affect the reader's understanding of Maria?
Passage 2: Morning in the Garden

Sunlight spilled across the garden like liquid gold, warming the dew-kissed petals of roses and daisies. Bees hummed their cheerful songs as they danced from flower to flower, gathering nature's sweetest treasures. The air smelled of honeysuckle and fresh earth.

Grandma stood in the center of it all, her weathered hands gently cradling a tomato plant. Her eyes sparkled with pride as she surveyed her little paradise. Decades of love and patience had transformed this once-empty lot into a thriving sanctuary.

"Every seed is a promise," she often told me. "You plant hope, add hard work, and watch miracles grow."

Questions About Passage 2

6. What is the TONE of this passage?
7. The author describes sunlight as "liquid gold" and flowers as "dew-kissed." What mood do these word choices create?
8. The author calls the garden a "sanctuary" and a "paradise." What do these word choices tell you about how the author (and Grandma) feel about the garden?
9. Which word could the author have used instead of "thriving" that would create a LESS positive feeling?
Passage 3: Two Reviews of the Same Restaurant

Review A: The restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere with dim lighting and soft music. The servers move efficiently between tables, and the food arrives promptly. The pasta dish features a rich tomato sauce with generous portions of vegetables.

Review B: This hidden gem wraps you in warmth the moment you step inside. Flickering candles create an intimate glow while jazz melodies float through the air. The servers glide between tables with graceful precision, and each dish arrives as a work of art. The pasta practically melts in your mouth, swimming in a heavenly tomato sauce bursting with garden-fresh vegetables.

Questions About Passage 3

10. How would you describe the TONE of Review A compared to Review B?
11. Review B calls the restaurant a "hidden gem" and says the sauce is "heavenly." What effect do these word choices have on the reader?
12. In Review A, servers "move efficiently." In Review B, they "glide with graceful precision." How does this word choice difference affect your impression of the restaurant?
13. Both reviews describe the same restaurant. Why might the authors have chosen such different word choices?
14. Compare Passage 1 (The Storm) and Passage 2 (Morning in the Garden). How do the authors use word choice to create OPPOSITE moods? Give at least one specific example from each passage.